Hornady 68-grain HPBT for coyotes?

[SSL]

My long-time .223 load for groundhogs and coyotes has been 50-grain VMax or 52-grain HPBT bullets (both shoot under .5" in my rifle). Now that I have a rifle with a 1-8" twist, I decided to try heavier bullets out of curiosity. Surprisingly, the Hornady 68-grain HPBT Match bullets shoot every bit as well as my former stand byes with the first load I tried without any load development. The idea of the heavier bullets is both logical and intriguing in my area where the coyotes grow very heavy coats, are mostly of a good size and the wind never seems to stop. My .22-250 is a 1-14" twist and accuracy is out the window with anything over 55 grains, and my .243 is just a bit too heavy to want to pack very far. Like Goldilocks, the .223 is just right.

My question is: Though mostly thought of as a target bullet, has anyone used the Hornady 68-grain HPBTs on coyotes and how were the the results? Is the jacket too thin and blows up or is it too thick and merely drills a small hole through?

 

[SVT_Tactical]

I've shot more coyotes with 69gr custom comps than any other bullet. Some DRT but others don't. If you're looking to save pelts then it should pencil in and pencil out.... at least that's my experience with the CCs. But be prepared to track. I have a load when we hunt tournaments that is geared towards terminal performance when you can't afford runners. When I use the CCs I keep in mind they might run but only short run before perishing.

 

[mike mccormick]

I know the 80gr smk is not fur friendly. Pencil in, half dollar out. Yes, it stabilizes in an 8 twist

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I am just starting to work up Loads for my .223 Rem and am going to use, the Hornady 68 grain Match, also.
I have seen a Gelatin test of, the 75 grain Match Horn's and they Expanded, very well !
I think, it will be the PERFECT longer Range, Coyote Bullet for, the .223 !

 

[SSL]

Since my rifle is limited to cartridges loaded to about 2.25" OAL (Ruger Predator and uses AR-style magazines), the 68-70 grain range is about as much as I can use without protrusion into powder space or having to single-load each cartridge. It would be nice if Hornady offered the VMax in a 65 to 70 grain bullet. Even a flat base would help keep bullet length down. Boat-tails really aren't needed for my intended use (300-350 yard or so max.).

 

[COhunter]

While not the 68gr hornady, i have shot plenty with the sierra 69gr mk and they have worked very well, i have not had too many actually exit either. With that said, since the mk's are almost non existent, i have got some hornady's to try. I'm shooting a tikka t3 with a 1-8" barrel too

 

[Billy 30-06]

You may want to try some 60gr. V-Max bullets. They shoot well in my 8" twist AR and the coyotes don't go anywhere after hit. When one exits it leaves a big hole. 50gr B-Tips may be more pelt friendly.
Billy

 

[A_Gamehog]

I’ve shot a lot of Pdogs with the 68 grainers. One hole out like a 1/2” drillbit

 

[Bojo]

I have shot countless ground hogs with 68 hpbt hornady’s out of a savage 10fp in 223.
bullet performance has never been an issue.
on a thru and thru meat shot pencil up to. 1/2 ish exit is the normal.

hit a bone or with the proper head shot and they make just a big of a mess as any other bullet.
Go for it OP you will not be disappointed.

 

[boltfluter]

In my experience Rockchucks are much tougher than any coyote as far as bullet expansion goes. In my .22BR, very close to a .223 in velocity, no heavy match bullet has expanded enough to stop a coyote in it's tracks. You will loose most unless you have a dog to track them down. On the flip side any bullet with a plastic tip will drop them on the spot. Been there and done that! As mentioned a 60 V-max would be a good place to start. Good luck.

Paul

 

[Dgd6mm]

My buddy shot a coyote at 250 yards with my rifle in Wyoming last month. Dropped it right there. .223, 53 gr, vmax. It was running away.

 

[SSL]

Thanks all. It appears to be a mixed bag of experiences. Sound like it's worth working on refining loads for them, but I need to be ready to switch if they don't work. I'm not sure what's happening here this year, but the coyotes I've seen so far have been the size of a medium German Shepherd and already heavily haired-out. Not like the lighter-built ones I usually see and the coats are heavier than normal for this time of year around here, though not completely grown out. Not a fan of wounded and lost game of any sort. Not a pelt hunter as such, but I wouldn't mind getting a couple good ones for personal use. I would prefer to use the .223 since my .22-250 and .243 are pretty heavy for much carrying (Ruger #1B and Savage 12 VLP) and my .17 Remington is a bit light for much over 250 yards and the right conditions/shot. Now in my 70s, I spent way too many years thinking this body would last forever with the physical abuse I put it through!

 

[Bocephus]

Thanks all. It appears to be a mixed bag of experiences. Sound like it's worth working on refining loads for them, but I need to be ready to switch if they don't work. I'm not sure what's happening here this year, but the coyotes I've seen so far have been the size of a medium German Shepherd and already heavily haired-out. Not like the lighter-built ones I usually see and the coats are heavier than normal for this time of year around here, though not completely grown out. Not a fan of wounded and lost game of any sort. Not a pelt hunter as such, but I wouldn't mind getting a couple good ones for personal use. I would prefer to use the .223 since my .22-250 and .243 are pretty heavy for much carrying (Ruger #1B and Savage 12 VLP) and my .17 Remington is a bit light for much over 250 yards and the right conditions/shot. Now in my 70s, I spent way too many years thinking this body would last forever with the physical abuse I put it through!

Can’t offer any help with the 68gr Hornady but have used 69gr MK and 69gr TMK. Generally speaking, both shoot really well out of my 9twt 223 barrels and are just fine “most of the time” on yotes. However, there have been a couple of exceptions that I really can’t explain. Very well could have more to do with the individual dog than bullet performance. Some are just harder to convince they are dead.
At this time, when the wind is up or I expect the yardage to be a bit long, the TMK is the one I send.
But I must confess, when a dog comes high-balling in, the very best bullet I have, is the one in the chamber.

 

[moorepower]

While not the 68gr hornady, i have shot plenty with the sierra 69gr mk and they have worked very well, i have not had too many actually exit either. With that said, since the mk's are almost non existent, i have got some hornady's to try. I'm shooting a tikka t3 with a 1-8" barrel too

Scheels has a bunch in stock.

 

[lb-ft]

53 Vmax is vicious, especially with some speed behind it. I love those things.

 

[lotech]

I've tried target bullets on coyotes. They will work, but not nearly as reliably as a varmint bullet.

 

[AckleymanII]

55g, 60g Sierra, 65g-68g benchrest bullets on a J4 jacket would be a much better choice as they have tapered jackets and are thin at the tip.

If you could find any 60-62g benchrest bullets, you would be in pay dirt, big time!

 

[searcher]

You will have far more run-aways than with your 50 V-Max. But if saving pelts - might be worth the trade-off. Where I live - we don't keep pelts - we are just trying to eliminate them in cattle area. The 50 V-Max works pretty good. The 50 Barnes Varmint Grenades works the best at stopping them - hands down. They open really quick - dump all energy inside and will only exit when shot at very close range. They love high velocity and won't come apart before hitting something. They like IMR8208XBR in most rifles tried- which also often works well with your 50 V-Max.

 

[Hondo64d]

My long-time .223 load for groundhogs and coyotes has been 50-grain VMax or 52-grain HPBT bullets (both shoot under .5" in my rifle). Now that I have a rifle with a 1-8" twist, I decided to try heavier bullets out of curiosity. Surprisingly, the Hornady 68-grain HPBT Match bullets shoot every bit as well as my former stand byes with the first load I tried without any load development. The idea of the heavier bullets is both logical and intriguing in my area where the coyotes grow very heavy coats, are mostly of a good size and the wind never seems to stop. My .22-250 is a 1-14" twist and accuracy is out the window with anything over 55 grains, and my .243 is just a bit too heavy to want to pack very far. Like Goldilocks, the .223 is just right.

My question is: Though mostly thought of as a target bullet, has anyone used the Hornady 68-grain HPBTs on coyotes and how were the the results? Is the jacket too thin and blows up or is it too thick and merely drills a small hole through?

I’ve had mixed results with the Hornady 68gr BTHPs on coyotes and pigs. I remember one coyote that ran 150 yards after being well hit with a 68gr BTHP launched from my 22-250. After finding him, it appeared the bullet penciled through with no expansion. Others shot with the same load from the same rifle were DRT. From my AR in .223 I’ve had good results, putting down coyotes and a decent sized pig where they stood.

John

 

[PPYFC1010]

I have shot 68 bowtail hollow point match out of a savage 223 FCPK for better than 10 years For prairie dogs groundhog and occasional a coyote I never heard one of them complain and they were all kill shots
They r all hand loads
I found it to be reliably accurate
The 68 gr is more than adequate in imho
And if u have any trepidation just don’t use the match Bullet style but use the 68 gr non match